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Friday, March 1, 2013

Review: Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Title: RequiemAuthor: Lauren OliverSeries: Book Three in the Delirium TrilogyPublished By: HarperTeen (March 5, 2013)Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)Genre: YA DystopianMy Rating: 4 Stars!Book Description:Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight. After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

I both hated and loved the ending of
Pandemonium. I loved the fact that we got to see what we had
all been hoping would happen since the end of delirium but I hated
how it all played out. I hated that it ended so abruptly. I wanted to
throw my book across the room and shoot out “Noooooo! How could you
Lauren Oliver!? How could you leave the ending on that horrible
cliffhanger?”

But of course, I didn't, always
truthfully, I really really wanted to.

So it was with great excitement and
trepidation that I went into reading Requiem. Not only did we
have that crazy cliffhanger to deal with but we also have the ending
of a trilogy that I have come to absolutely love. To saying goodbye
to characters that have been nothing short of becoming friends as I
have journeyed with them over the course of the series. To care about
and love. So to say I was also sad while starting this, would be an
understatement.

I love how much Lena has grown
throughout this series. She is so strong and capable now. She still
gets confused and scared but she never lets it control her. She still
pushed on and forges ahead. She is brave and truly someone to be
proud of.

I am so glad that she finally got
moments with her mom. I don't want to say too much because I don't
want any spoilers but, I am happy with what Ms. Oliver gave us.

Hana. Oh Hana, how I disliked thee
after reading your novella. She did redeem herself though, I will say
that much and I found myself liking her once again.

So much happens in this and yet so much
doesn't. I really feel it is hard to write this review without giving
anything away. Alex, Julian, the resistance, the fighting, the dying,
the heartache, the resolve. Gah! How can I say all that I want to
without spoilers?

I will say that the ending, while it
was a definite ending, which okay, was a little disappointing and
left me feeling a little bit sad, it did give me hope too. It is one
of those ending where really the possibilities are limitless.
Anything could happen because you can make that ending yourself. You
can choose to believe whatever you want to believe.

Am I disappointed that there wasn't a
set in stone ending? That Lauren didn't spell it all out for us? If I
am being honest, yes. Yes I am a little disappointed but I understand
why she left it the way she did and I am okay with that, I really am.

The author has done such a great job
with the whole trilogy that it is hard to be too upset with her that
she didn't give me the exact ending I wanted, after all, this wasn't
my series, my dream or my creation. This was hers and she could end
it however she wanted to.

She did give the characters redeeming
qualities for past wrongs and mistakes. She did make me love and care
for them even more after it was all said and done. And she did make
me mourn for the loss of those that died and the loss of the series
as a whole so in part, she did her job. She brought out emotions in
me only a good writer can.

So am I angry it ended the way it did?
So open to interpretation that it was? Nope. Not at all. In fact,
well done Ms. Oliver. Well done.

I'm not reading reviews for this one. I'm so stressed out about how it goes and I think I want to go in having no clue. But I'm pretty happy to see your 4 stars though because I've seen good and bad for this one.

I admit I was nervous going into it too and I tried not to read anything because I didn't want any spoilers (and my review doesn't have any!) but yeah, the ending was different. Not good or bad really just sort of there.

Wonderful review. I have only read Delirium, and I really wasn't too crazy about the way it ended, but still wanted to continue the series. I have read mixed reviews on Pandemonium and Requiem, with the general consensus leading toward positive, but after reading your review, I am convinced that I want to finish this series as soon as I get a chance.

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I am a full time mom and avid reader. When I am not playing dress up or chasing down lost toys and wrestling with the never ending pile of laundry, I read. Actually, I read whenever I get the chance. I love many different genres and would have a hard time choosing just one favorite book. And yes I really am obsessed with books, in fact I might be a book hoarder. Thankfully I have a Kindle and no one is the wiser to my vastly growing collection of books.